Toyota in the Hot Seat: First it's the Gas Pedal, now it's the Brakes?

It was only Monday when all this big news was popping up regarding Congressional Committees getting involved, investigating Toyota about its "sudden acceleration" problem. 

Just this past Sunday, the New York Times wrote a great article, giving an overview of this gas pedal acceleration problem in both Toyota models as well as Lexus vehicles -- something that's been a known issue since 2002.  Known issue, as in stuck accelerators have been causing wrecks and killing people for several years now.

So, as an attorney, I was already expecting to read about new Toyota lawsuits - heck, I was ready to see the television commercials.  All about the gas pedal slamming down, think how creative those ad agencies could be ....

And then, today, whattha????

Because today, first I read that the Secretary of Transportation reported before Congress to give his testimony today, and he's said that folk should just stop driving their Toyotas until they can get their dealers to fix them. 

(Plaintiffs' lawyers smile like Cheshire Cats when they hear something like this -- and it's even better when there's video of the head of the Department of Transportation telling this to Congress.  Oh, the glee....)

But wait.  Wait. 

Now, I learn there's also some big problem with the BRAKES made by Toyota.  Apparently, the brakes in the 2010 Prius hybrid are malfunctioning, too.  Ye Gads. 

Brakes, gas pedals ... there's gotta be a lot of jokes in all this.  And so, so many lawsuits ....

One Smart Fox

Cuba Gooding, Jr. to play Tiger Woods in a Movie? Cuba, say it isn't so....

It's being reported that Cuba Gooding, Jr. is being cast as Tiger Woods in a new movie that will focus on the continuing Tiger Woods scandal.  This news is showing up on Gooding's IMDB profile as almost a done deal.

Wo Nellie. 

My first thought -- which is a bigger fall from grace, Tiger Woods for obvious reasons or Cuba Gooding, Jr. (an actor whose talents I admire) even being MENTIONED to star in this opportunistic crud? 

You remember Cuba Gooding, Jr. -- he's the guy who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Jerry McGuire, playing the character with the catch phrase "show me the money" ....

Show me the money, indeed. 

It's Complicated - Legally Related Movie Review No. 1

It's Complicated not only has a main character who is a lawyer (Alec Baldwin's role), it deals with lots of stuff that family lawyers will appreciate.  Divorce, the kids after the divorce, adulterous liasons, ... you get the idea.  You never know what kind of law that Baldwin's character practices, but he's gotta be a trial lawyer.     

Family lawyers will probably think this film is a hoot in ways that others won't. Here's what I thought (my background isn't family law) .... 

Melinda Duckett Family Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Nancy Grace and CNN -- It May Be a Dog that Will Hunt

Here in Texas, and I suppose most of the South, lawyers will talk about a weak argument as being a "dog that won't hunt."  And there was a time after the 2006 filing of a wrongful death action against CNN and Nancy Grace by the family of Melinda Duckett where that was exactly what I was thinking:  it's a dog that won't hunt.  Things may have changed ....

Backstory - What's the Basis for the Lawsuit?

On September 7, 2006, Nancy Grace interviewed Melinda Duckett over the telephone as part of her continuing television coverage of the search for Melinda Duckett's missing child, 2 year old Trenton.  (A transcript of the interview, as it was aired on September 8, 2006, by CNN is still available online.)